Municipal races head into the home stretch

Published: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at 4:52 p.m.

Early voting begins Thursday for the 2013 municipal elections. It ends Nov. 2, three days before the General Election. Unless you live in Wallburg, which offers no contested races, residents of the county's municipalities need to learn about the candidates and prepare to make informed choices at the ballot box. Some of the races are rather intriguing.

Take Lexington Ward 1. A popular incumbent, Ronald Reid, faces a popular challenger, the Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller. Both men boast solid records of service to their community. Reid seeks his second term on the council while Miller is running again after narrowly losing two years ago for an at-large seat. This truly offers a race where every vote will count, as the outcome promises to be close. So Ward 1 residents need to make sure to cast their ballots. Ward 3 also features a repeat from two years ago between incumbent Linwood Bunce and Gary Fancy.

Thomasville always offers unpredictable results with its system in which every member of the seven-person city council and the mayor run every two years. That means the entire makeup of the city's elected leadership could change. Six of the seven incumbent council members are seeking re-election. They will face six challengers. As one would expect, the city's ongoing wastewater issues along with jobs top the list of candidate priorities. Three candidates are running for mayor.

Midway and Denton also provide some interesting races in which residents must decide whether to return incumbents to office or opt for a different direction. The challengers in many cases disagree with the decisions from the incumbents and have made their cases they could do better. Five candidates, including two incumbents, are seeking the three seats on the Midway Town Council; two incumbents face two challengers for the two seats on the Denton Town Council; and Denton Mayor Scott Morris squares off with Larry Ward.

Thomasville voters perhaps have the most difficult challenge in choosing between so many candidates. Piedmont Crossing held a forum last month that provided some insight, and videos of the candidates will air on Channel 13 thanks to the City of Thomasville and Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce. The Lexington chamber sponsored a forum for candidates Tuesday night. Voters can also read stories in The Dispatch that focused on the various races. Candidates are making direct appeals through various avenues as well.

Municipal elections often don't draw the interest of presidential, statewide or even county elections, and turnout at times can be woefully low. But that makes each vote even more important. So registered voters living in Lexington, Thomasville, Denton, Midway and Wallburg need to make plans to vote early or visit the polls Nov. 5 and let their voices be heard.

<p>Early voting begins Thursday for the 2013 municipal elections. It ends Nov. 2, three days before the General Election. Unless you live in Wallburg, which offers no contested races, residents of the county's municipalities need to learn about the candidates and prepare to make informed choices at the ballot box. Some of the races are rather intriguing.</p><p>Take Lexington Ward 1. A popular incumbent, Ronald Reid, faces a popular challenger, the Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller. Both men boast solid records of service to their community. Reid seeks his second term on the council while Miller is running again after narrowly losing two years ago for an at-large seat. This truly offers a race where every vote will count, as the outcome promises to be close. So Ward 1 residents need to make sure to cast their ballots. Ward 3 also features a repeat from two years ago between incumbent Linwood Bunce and Gary Fancy. </p><p>Thomasville always offers unpredictable results with its system in which every member of the seven-person city council and the mayor run every two years. That means the entire makeup of the city's elected leadership could change. Six of the seven incumbent council members are seeking re-election. They will face six challengers. As one would expect, the city's ongoing wastewater issues along with jobs top the list of candidate priorities. Three candidates are running for mayor.</p><p>Midway and Denton also provide some interesting races in which residents must decide whether to return incumbents to office or opt for a different direction. The challengers in many cases disagree with the decisions from the incumbents and have made their cases they could do better. Five candidates, including two incumbents, are seeking the three seats on the Midway Town Council; two incumbents face two challengers for the two seats on the Denton Town Council; and Denton Mayor Scott Morris squares off with Larry Ward.</p><p>Thomasville voters perhaps have the most difficult challenge in choosing between so many candidates. Piedmont Crossing held a forum last month that provided some insight, and videos of the candidates will air on Channel 13 thanks to the City of Thomasville and Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce. The Lexington chamber sponsored a forum for candidates Tuesday night. Voters can also read stories in The Dispatch that focused on the various races. Candidates are making direct appeals through various avenues as well.</p><p>Municipal elections often don't draw the interest of presidential, statewide or even county elections, and turnout at times can be woefully low. But that makes each vote even more important. So registered voters living in Lexington, Thomasville, Denton, Midway and Wallburg need to make plans to vote early or visit the polls Nov. 5 and let their voices be heard.</p>